Three LNP MPs defect, Palmer waits

By Kym Agius

Three rebel Liberal National Party MPs have quit the party in an extraordinary final week of Queensland politics and Clive Palmer is circling parliament's steps wooing them not so softly.

The final sitting day for 2012 ended again in public bloodletting, with Yeerongpilly MP Carl Judge and Gaven MP Alex Douglas quitting, with heavy hearts, to become independents.

Longstanding member for Condamine, Ray Hopper, who jumped to Katter's Australian Party on the weekend, has since been named as the party's new leader.

They claim cabinet isn't listening to more than 50 backbenchers, due process has been thrown out the window and the leadership is dishing out hardline punishment to silence dissidents.

Mr Newman flew to India on Thursday night on a trade mission, hoping voters will forget the recent circus, which also includes Housing Minister Bruce Flegg resigning from the ministry.

The premier shot down every question on whether he'd handled the strife well, repeating his mantra that the government will be judged on getting things done, and being true to its commitments.

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Mr Palmer, who threw in his lifelong LNP membership last week, announced on the steps of parliament that there was a more than 50 per cent chance he would set up his own political party, called the United Australia Party.

Mr Judge and Mr Hopper joined him before the huge media scrum.

Neither ruled out signing up and Mr Hopper went so far as saying a merger with KAP could one day be possible.

Dr Douglas, who wasn't there, also didn't rule out switching.

"All Queenslanders need to unite against the common enemy," Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer earlier in the day accused the government of conspiring to have him put in jail and confiscate all his assets.

Despite this he won't take his complaints to the police or the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

Mr Newman said he gave up commenting on what Mr Palmer said a long time ago.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said Mr Newman should look back on the year with shame, from mass public servant sackings to presiding over a soap opera.

"We have not seen even a small glimpse of the humility, grace and dignity he promised," she said.